June 9, 2011
The Tempest
Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2011 No one ever accused stage and screen director Julie Taymor of lacking inventiveness or boldness. (Titus, stunning; Across the Universe, gag.) But perhaps The Tempest, Shakespeare’s contemplative farewell play, could have used a bit less bombast. That said, this is worth seeing for the cast alone. In a […]
By Metropolis
Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2011
© 2010 Touchstone Pictures
No one ever accused stage and screen director Julie Taymor of lacking inventiveness or boldness. (Titus, stunning; Across the Universe, gag.) But perhaps The Tempest, Shakespeare’s contemplative farewell play, could have used a bit less bombast. That said, this is worth seeing for the cast alone. In a brilliant move, Taymor has pulled a gender switch and cast Helen Mirren as the exiled magician Prospera. Add Ben Whishaw, Chris Cooper, Alan Cumming, Djimon Hounsou, Tom Conti, Alfred Molina, Russell Brand, David Strathairn and Felicity Jones, and you’ve got a winner despite a few stagecraft excesses.
